Aston Villa are said to have agreed a deal to sign Port Vale teenage star Freddie Lawrie.
According to Football Insider, Lawrie is set to become the club’s record sale for a schoolboy when he joins Villa. The under-15 player has been watched by a number of Premier League clubs thanks to his outstanding performances as a youth, with Villa winning the race to sign the central midfielder.
A number of famous players have come through the ranks at Villa Park in recent years, including Jacob Ramsey, Tim Iroegbunam and Jack Grealish.
Elsewhere, the former Golden Boy man has passed up the chance to join Aston Villa this summer as he pursues a dream loan deal, according to reports in Spain. Portuguese striker Joao Felix is considered a target for several English clubs, including Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Unai Emery wants to strengthen his attacking options with Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey and new signing Moussa Diaby up front. Spanish media outlet Mundo Deportivo reported that Felix was forced to move to Camp Nou and rejected several offers from England and Saudi Arabia, including Villa.
It is understood that Villa have rejected interest from a number of other Premier League clubs to secure a deal for the under-15 academy player.
The deal was initially the subject of an “exclusive” report by website Football Insider, but the news was confirmed by sources close to the matter. Details of the compensation fee Villa will pay Lawrie are still unknown.
Lawrie first caught the eye with a number of standout performances for the Valiants at underage age, and once his departure was confirmed he will become Vale’s second academy player earning big money in the Premier League in recent weeks behind Michael Mills. moved to Newcastle United.
The Villa academy is renowned for producing top talent, and Lawrie will certainly be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Jacob Ramsey and Tim Iroegbunam, both of whom were part of Unai Emery’s first team at Villa Park. .
